Connecter



Dec. 1 8, 1934. NELSON 1,984,540

GONNECTER Filed Feb. 2, 1953 Fi L lll,

nu nu M Mum INVENTOR- Patented Dec. 18,1934

UNITED STATES tartar Pics 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a connecter that can be readily applied andeasily removed without the use of tools/but remains securely in placewhen in use. The invention is especially useful in making electricalconnections although it may be successfully used to makeotherconnections.

In carrying out this invention a member is provided with a hole oropening into which a second member, to which it is to be connected,projects. Resilient means, such as bristles, are attached to the firstmember and project into said hole or opening in such positions that theycontact with said second member and prevent the two members frombecoming accidentally disconnected. There are no screws or nuts to comeloose. The members may, however, be separated by proper manipulation.

The invention willbe specifically described in connection with aconnecter for a battery terminal, although it is to be understood thatthe invention is capable of use in many other places.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through anillustrative embodiment of the invention taken along the line 1-1 ofFig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan view from the lower side thereof and Fig. 3 isa side elevation.

In the drawing, reference character 1 indicates a connecter that is amember or block that is provided with an opening 2. The opening 2 isindicated as being round in cross section and going entirely through themember 1, although this opening may be of other shapes such as oval,rectangular, etc., and may not extend entirely through the member 1.When the connecter is to be used for a battery or other electricalconnecter it will be made of metal or other conductive material. Leadhas been found to be especially suitable in this connection for makingstorage battery connecters, particularly when the battery terminals arealso made of lead.

Bristles 4, or other forms of resilient material that are sharpened orpointed and are preferably non-corrosive or rustless, such as stainlesssteel, for example, are anchored to the connecter 1 and project asufficient distance into the opening 2 to contact with the outersurfaces of the lug or terminal 3 when the connector is in place. Thedistances between the inner ends of bristles on opposite sides of theopening 2 are made less than the distance across the terminal 3 so thatwhen the connecter is pressed down upon the terminal or this terminalenters the hole 2, the free ends of the bristles 4 will be sprung orbent sufficiently to permit the terminal to enter the hole. Any tendencyto pull the connecter 1 01? of the terminal 3 will cause the inner endsof the bristles 4 to tend to straighten and penetrate the terminal 3,thus placingthe parts of the bristles inside the hole 2 in compressionand preventing removal of the connecter. However, the connecter 1 can beremoved by hand by turning it with respect to the terminal 3 whileapplying force to separate them as theends of'the. bristles will therebybecome sprung circumfer entially allowing them to move spirallyaroundthe terminal to its outer end. The connecter may be used withterminals of considerable differences in size as the bristles 4 willmerely be bent more with the larger size terminals, and will contactwith the smaller sizes and keep the connecter in place so long as theterminals are largeenough to strike the ends of bristles that are onopposite sides of the opening.

The bristles 4 may be made to slope slightly upwardly or opposite thedirection the connecter 2 moves When it is being placed upon theterminal 3, thus making it easier to put the terminal on. These bristlesmay be embedded in the body of the connecter so as to extend generallyin a radial direction as indicated in Fig. 2. This may be done, forexample, when the metal to form the connecter is poured into the mold.

Even when the hole 2 extends entirely through the connecter 1, its outerend may be reduced as indicated at 2 so that this portion fits theterminal closely and prevents entry of dirt into the hole 2.

The connecter 1 may be provided with a lug 5 having an opening 6 for anelectrical wire. The wire may be connected to the lug 6 in anyconvenient way as by soldering, for example.

This connecter makes a better electrical connection than ordinaryconnectors as the ends of the bristles scratch oli any film or layer ofdirt or oil or other nonconducting material, that may be on theterminal, or will penetrate this film or layer and stick into the metalof the terminal so that the resistance to flow of current is decreased,With the numerous bristles carrying the current between the terminal andconnecter. The connecter is not loosened by vibration as the ends of thebristles tend to work deeper into the terminal and maintain themechanical and electrical contact securely.

I claim:

1. In combination, a connecter having an opening, the metallic bristlesconnected to said connecter and extending through the surface of saidopening into said opening and pointing slightly toward one end of saidopening, and a lug in said opening with which the ends of said bristlescontact.

2. In combination, a connecter having an opening, bristles connected tosaid connecter and extending through the surface of said opening intosaid opening in a substantially radial direction and a lug in saidopening with which the ends of said bristles contact.

3. In combination, a connecter having a cylindrically shaped openingtherein, bristles connected to said connecter and extendingsubstantially radially into said opening, and a cylindrically shapedterminal extending axially into said opening, the diameter of saidterminal being slightly greater than the distance between the ends ofdiametrically opposite bristles.

4. A connecter having a cylindrically shaped opening therein, thediameter of which is smaller at one place than at another, and metallicbristles connected to said connecter and extending substantiallyradially into said opening where the diameter is'larger.

5. A connecter having a cylindrically shaped opening therein, andcircumferentially and axially spaced metallic bristles individuallyspaced to form a plurality of rows connected to said connecter andextending substantially radially into said opening. I

6. A connecter having a cylindrically shaped opening therein, andcircumferentially and axially spaced metallic bristles connected to saidconnecter and extending substantially radially into said opening, theends of said bristles all terminating substantially the same distancefrom the surface of said opening.

7. In combination, a connecter having an opening therein, metallicbristles connected to said connecter and extending substantiallyradially into said opening, a terminal extending axially into saidopening, the size of saidopening exceeding the size of-said terminalslightly less than the amount said bristles extend into said opening.

8. In combination, a connecter having an opening therein, metallicbristles connected to said connecter and extending substantiallyradially into said opening, a terminal extending axially into saidopening, said terminal being slightly smaller than said opening and saidbristles extending across the space between said terminal and the wallof said opening.

9. In combination, a connecter having an opening therein, metallicbristles connected to said connecter and extending substantiallyradially into said opening, a terminal extending axially into saidopening, the size of said terminal being such that said bristles arebent when said terminal enters said opening.

AXEL NELSON. I

